Vermont and Back

This was the epitome of a quick trip. We pack a lot into them, and this was no exception. One of the fun things about this trip was that Chris and Kenni were able to come up from Virginia and spend the week with us at the Parrish house. Their little one Zuri is growing up fast of course, and it was fun to see her as well.



The dog Kelso was also with them, and got into the family thing with gusto.


I have posted about Alma Gilbert from time to time over the years. She is the expert on Maxfield Parrish art who owns his home in Cornish New Hampshire across the river where he lived. (Even though he owned our house, he never lived in it). She has made the lower floor of her/his home into a museum with hundreds of millions of art displayed there. We took Chris and Kenni to see it, took Chinese for dinner, and got this picture with Alma.



Of course, much of what we do when we are there is eat together. Paula essentially watches kids, cooks, cleans and then starts over. On this day however, Kenni and Chelle were the cooks.


We were celebrating Anders, Maddie, Eddie and Chris and Kenni and Brig's birthdays!



The new bikes (well new to these guys) were the definite hit of the day. Eddie was particularly excited about being one of the "big" people.


Ok, now for this post's mystery critter! Hope someone is paying attention. The last couple of critter games seems to have gone unnoticed. Money is still there if someone wants to try for them. Meanwhile here is today's. This animal was seen in a swampy area behind Wal Mart in Lebanon. It was swimming, and crawled up on the bank just out of the water. Pretty big! $10 is on the line!


I also got the chance to do some birding. On one of my outings, Anders was along and described it by saying that we were "on an adventure"! So here are a few birds.

A couple of common Warblers.

The Common Yellowthroat


And the equally common Yellow Warbler



Also seen behind the Wal Mart was the Green Heron.






The Eastern Kingbird was seen several places around Windsor.


As was the Eastern Wood-Pewee, a very beautiful little flycatcher. This one was out in the rain.


Up above the prison on the west side of Windsor is a very beautiful area with amazing vista's, and a lot of interesting bird habitat. Among the birds we saw there were the Bobolink. Both the male and female were flitting around catching dinner.



Back in the swamp behind Walmart was the Ringed Kingfisher. (By the way, I found the swamp when I went to get the tires replaced on the FJ, and didn't want to sit around!)


And in the same swampy area was the Common Grackle. It's blue head and glossy black body are really beautiful.


Back on the mountain behind the prison we also saw a lot of deer, including this beautiful doe.


Fun to see the wildlife anywhere you go!

Peace Out.

Off To Vermont

The case that Mike V. and I have been working on for several years settled suddenly at 5 pm on Friday. We were all ready to pick a jury on Monday, and had spent all week on pre-trial motions where we did well. We really did not expect it to settle, but when it did, I called Paula, and within a couple of hours had plane ticket. We left Portland at midnight, had a couple of hour layover in Detroit and arrived in Manchester, New Hampshire just after noon on Saturday.

But first a few birds from Rainbow. I took these a few days ago when I was out for a walk. One of my favorite sparrows is the Song Sparrow.


It is really a plain looking bird, but the song is very beautiful. Here is a video I shot of this same bird.



A couple of very beautiful females include this Downy Woodpecker


And this very powerful Red Winged Blackbird


It is always very fun to see the American Goldfinch hanging upside down on the sock filled with thistle seed.


I got this photo of the rain on the flowers that same day.


And now to Vermont. When we arrived on Saturday, the first thing we did was stop at the Snapdragon. Pictures coming soon. We didn't stay long however, as there was a big event scheduled up at the Joseph Smith Memorial. The church was sponsoring a patriotic day honoring the veterans from the area. The main attraction was a youth chorus made up of church kids from all over the region.


If you have not been to the memorial, it has as its central feature a large obelisk honoring the Prophet Joseph who was born just a few feet to the left of the monument in a cabin on the farm belonging to his mother's family.


The program included many songs from the chorus, a speech and award given to Governor Douglas of Vermont, and recognition of local vets like this gentleman


Several of Jordan and K80 Larson's children were in the chorus. Austin and Wyatt had important parts as card holders and singers.





It was a very impressive event. It was fun to see the Boy Scout playing taps in front of the memorial.


And now buried in the middle of this post is the mystery critter. It is often found in high elevation locations in the Andes Mountains. These happen to live down the street on Rainbow lane. Should be an easy one for the first grandchild to read this post to win the $10 for this one.




Of course the most fun thing about Vermont is the Grandkids!


Maddie and friends saying the Pledge! Her hair is definitely wild!


Anders and his buddy Edmundo


Who is growing up way too fast and thinks he is king of the hill.


I can't resist throwing up a picture of Brig's little nephew Lars, of Chris and Mike Cammock. This kid is seriously mischievous.


My nephew Clark has been here nearly a year now and in a week is off to Montana, Oregon and then Hawaii. He has really been a valuable cog in the wheel here.


More later. Chris and Kenni are here now with the little twerp.

Mother's Day and Surrounds

This post is essentially a catch up for the last several weeks. I will start out with Mother's Day.


Mom got a new log rocker from the kids. Nic and Nate put it together in the basement.


Lots of family there, and we did another family meeting. The kids seem to look forward to a few minutes of grown up discussion when we get together.



It was also Su Lu's birthday.



Oh and by the way, Alicia is pregnant.


Our friend down the road made us yet another panel for the yard. In this one there are a pair of Great Egrets defending their nest from a Great Blue Heron.




We are making progress on the farm house. The entire entry is being redone.


Terry had us buy some cabinets at the wholesale outlet. They are Hickory, and we really like them. They look pretty good with the "bowling alley", center island.


The hole in the wall is a pass through that will be above a counter next to the 48" range. There is a hole in the sheetrock where the range will go, as we added a pot filler above the range.


The roll up doors are in, and the views are as good as we had planned.



Dillan was baptized meanwhile by his dad. We all went out to the all you can eat Chinese Buffet afterward.



The flowers are out. This poppy garden is one of the things that delight me on my daily walks around the Rainbow Loop.


And now for the contest I promised would be buried in each future post. The contest gives $10 to the grandchild who can identify the MYSTERY CRITTER in each post. The winner of the first post was Anders, who correctly identified the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake.

Here is the critter for this post. It was seen right here on Rainbow Lane just after a rainstorm. It is about 3 inches long. These are more common to central and eastern North America, but occasionally found here. First one to post the answer wins the prize.


Here is another hint. This cat, which I also see on my walks may have gotten it shortly after I took the picture. Look carefully at the Mystery Critter, it may fool you.


And now for a few birds.


A pair of House Finch.

A Pair of Mourning Dove's





A Pair of Brown Headed Cowbirds


The Evening Grosbeaks are beautiful and even the female is striking as they jump from the fir trees to the feeders.





And the Black Headed Grosbeaks are equally stunning.


The forests around our home here on Rainbow are full of a variety of woodpeckers. One of my favorites is the Red Shafted Northern Flicker. It was building a nest when I found it in a telephone pole.



Meanwhile, on the other side of the road there were several Red Bellied Sapsucker's building nests in the dead cottonwood on Mike's place. He was intending to cut down the tree, but just couldn't bring himself to do so with the families about to be growing.




Just today in our own backyard, a Downy Woodpecker began another nest in a tree just off the back deck.




A couple other fun birds that have shown up lately.


Chipping Sparrow


A Red Tail Hawk that soars over the river out back.


A California Quail perched on the Culvert in the sand box in the back yard.

Lot's of things are moving around, packing food back to the nest.

Here is a Western Tanager


And finally a European Starling carrying the prize home to it's babies.


Post Over.